Kakao Mobility is undertaking a complete overhaul of the Kakao T home screen and integrated search functionality. The aim is to evolve from an app that provides ‘the desired mode of transport’ to a ‘portal-like app’ that offers everything needed for travel based on user destinations.
The most significant change is the placement of the integrated search feature prominently on the screen. The ‘integrated search’ launched in March last year allows users to input just their destination to access various transportation options within Kakao T, checking routes, estimated travel times, and costs all in one go.
Kakao Mobility has enhanced the performance of this integrated search by adding a ‘my car use’ filter that allows users to quickly select their home, workplace, or recent destinations when they input their destination on the Kakao T home screen, or to see only the transportation means required for driving their own car.
Users can sort transportation options by recommendation, shortest time, or lowest cost for comparison.
For example, if a user in Seoul enters Haeundae as their destination in the integrated search bar, they can view a comparison of transportation details including flights, KTX, taxis, navigation, parking, chauffeur services, and rental cars, allowing them to decide whether to drive themselves or take a taxi or other public transport.
With this Kakao T home update, Kakao Mobility aims to shift from a transportation means-centered approach to a user-centered transportation paradigm. Just as Kakao Taxi transformed the paradigm from ‘hailed taxis’ to ‘called taxis’, this update expects to enhance user convenience and lead a change in the mobility paradigm.
Setting departure times to check future operation information and pre-reserving services has also become more convenient. By entering the destination in the integrated search bar, users can check future operation information for public transportation, taxis, navigation, and other various means of transport.
The ‘future operation information’ feature predicts traffic information for specific future times through big data analysis and traffic prediction algorithms. Based on these search results, users can easily reserve the transportation means they desire, be it taxi, chauffeur, train, or intercity bus.
Additionally, at the bottom of the home screen, users can easily check their current usage or reservation details, and a ‘view all’ button has been added to see all of the various mobility services offered by Kakao T at a glance.
Ryu Geung-seon, CEO of Kakao Mobility, stated, “Kakao T has evolved into a ‘mobility portal’ that encompasses all the elements necessary for travel, beyond just a simple calling app,” and added, “We will continue to innovate our services to relieve all concerns and inconveniences associated with travel, striving to be a true companion for users.”
Lee Sang-jin daedusj@autodiary.kr